How I Got my Agent: Jennifer M. Eaton PLUS Giveaway #month9squad

I am so excited that EMBERS IN THE SEA by Jennifer M. Eaton releases today and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Jennifer M. Eaton, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), and an Alien Charm Necklace US Only courtesy of Jennifer & Month9Books. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Title: EMBERS IN THE SEA (Fire in The Woods #3)

Author: JenniferM. Eaton

Pub. Date: January 31, 2017

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 300

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD

Alien scientist David has dealt with disappointment his entire life, but failing to breathe life into the planet Mars is his greatest regret. Out of options and in need of a new home for their people, the alien Caretakers rekindle their plan to inhabit Earth. First they will have to eliminate the human race, including Jess, the only human David holds dear.

Humanity has one final chance at survival. David needs to emulate Earth’s precipitation on Mars. But the catalyst to make it rain lies in the fathomless depths of Earth’s ocean.

The clock is ticking down to humanity’s last hours as Jess and David face a world more alien than either of them can imagine. The sea hides secrets, but some secrets don’t want to be found.

How I queried one book and ended up with a three book deal!

A few years ago, I was in full query mode, sending out Fire in the Woods to agents and editors, getting rejections (as all authors do) then revising, rinse, repeat.

I was lucky enough to meet and speak with the YA editor of a Big Five Publishing house, who asked to read the first fifty pages. She rejected as well, but with wonderful feedback stating: “I loved the story, but the voice was not authentic enough.”

I chewed on the feedback for a while and made a frightening decision. I decided to draw on my acting training from high school, and I pulled myself into the character of a seventeen year old girl. I locked myself in there, started on page one, and I let Jess tell the story in her own words.

That meant breaking rules. And in writing, I am not one to break rules, but I figured it was worth a try.

Immediately I began to see a difference in the interest in my novel. Then, one day, the editor of Month9Books tweeted: (paraphrasing) “I just started a YA sci fi with such a unique voice”. I held my breath and watched her twitter feed closely. I became a mess when she started talking about “can’t put it down” “aliens” “action”. I bit my nails down to stubs over a week, and then the tweet came… I think it was about 1:00 in the morning, and she said something about a book hangover, and that she’d be offering on this amazing manuscript tomorrow.

The next day I woke to not only an offer for Fire in the Woods, but a contract offer for a three book series based off book one.

Woohoo!

So, if you are a writer, my advice is to keep trying, keep revising, and take feedback seriously. You never know when you are going to hit that sweet spot.

About Jennifer: 

Jennifer M. Eaton hails from the eastern shore of the North American Continent on planet Earth. Yes, regrettably, she is human, but please don’t hold that against her. While not traipsing through the galaxy looking for specimens for her space moth collection, she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband and three energetic offspring. (And a poodle who runs the spaceport when she’s not around.)

During infrequent excursions to her home planet of Earth, Jennifer enjoys long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but great adventures are always a short shuttle ride away.

Who knows where we’ll end up next?

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

(1) winner will receive a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), US Only.

(1) winner will receive an Alien Charm Necklace, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/30/2017- Sharon Lee Hughson, Author- Excerpt

1/30/2017- Dani Reviews Things- Review

1/31/2017- Hidden Worlds Books- Guest Post

1/31/2017- The Fearless Reader- Review

2/1/2017- So Few Books- Interview

2/1/2017- The Starving Bookworm- Review

2/2/2017- Lisa's Loves(Books of Course)- Guest Post

2/2/2017- Don't Judge, Read- Review

2/3/2017- Wishful Endings- Interview

2/3/2017- Bookish Hollow- Review

Week Two:

2/6/2017- StephanieCassidyBlog- Interview

2/6/2017- iamnotabookworm- Review

2/7/2017- Read Coffee and Teen- Excerpt

2/7/2017- BookCrushin- Review

2/8/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

2/8/2017- fallxnrobin- Review

2/9/2017- Rockin' Book Reviews- Excerpt

2/9/2017- Book-Keeping- Review

2/10/2017- LILbooKlovers- Interview

2/10/2017- Read, Coffee, and Teen- Review

How I Got my Agent: Shaila Patel

I am so excited that SOULMATED by Shaila Patel releases today and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Shaila Patel, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), US Only courtesy of Month9Books. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Title: SOULMATED (Joining of Souls #1)

Author: Shaila Patel

Pub. Date: January 24, 2017

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 300

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD

Two souls. One Fate.

Eighteen-year-old Liam Whelan, an Irish royal empath, has been searching for his elusive soulmate. The rare union will cement his family's standing in empath politics and afford the couple legendary powers, while also making them targets of those seeking to oust them.

Laxshmi Kapadia, an Indian-American high school student from a traditional family, faces her mother's ultimatum: Graduate early and go to medical school, or commit to an arranged marriage.

When Liam moves next door to Laxshmi, he’s immediately and inexplicably drawn to her. In Liam, Laxshmi envisions a future with the freedom to follow her heart.

Liam's father isn't convinced Laxshmi is "The One" and Laxshmi's mother won't even let her talk to their handsome new neighbor. Will Liam and Laxshmi defy expectations and embrace a shared destiny? Or is the risk of choosing one's own fate too great a price for the soulmated?

I actually signed with my agent, Amanda Leuck, after pitching Soulmated to her in person at a Romance Writers of America conference in New York City. I chose her from a list of agents we could schedule a pitch session with, and when I went for my appointment, I couldn't believe how calm I was—which I took to be a good sign! 

My pitch went so smoothly that we had time to talk about my other projects, and it seemed we hit it off. (At least in my mind we did! Lol!) That's when I knew I really wanted to work with her. I had picked up a random appointment spot with another agent that had been on my wish list, but we didn't connect face-to-face at all. There just wasn't a spark. Agent #2 had requested some pages from me, but I trusted my instincts enough to know that I wouldn't have been happy working with her if she wanted to represent me. 

So I did what they always say not to do—I put all my eggs in the "Amanda" basket—and sent her the chapters she'd requested. I got lucky my gamble paid off. Two weeks later, Amanda emailed me an offer of representation while I was in Ireland doing research for my book, and I've been happy ever since.

As an unabashed lover of all things happily-ever- after, Shaila’s younger self would finish reading Cinderella and fling her copy across the room because it didn’t mention what happened next. Now she writes from her home in the Carolinas and dreams up all sorts of stories with epilogues. A member of the Romance Writers of America, she’s a pharmacist by training, a medical office manager by day, and a writer by night. She enjoys traveling, craft beer, and teas, and loves reading books—especially in cozy window seats. You might find her sneaking in a few paragraphs at a red light or connecting with other readers online at: www.shailapatelauthor.com

Find Shaila:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads

(1) winner will receive a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), US Only.

(10) winners will receive a SOULMATED Swag Pack, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/23/2017- Dani Reviews Things- Excerpt

1/23/2017- I am not a bookworm!- Review

1/24/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

1/24/2017- Book-Keeping- Review

1/25/2017- Black Cat Blog- Guest Post

1/25/2017- Omg Books and More Books - Review

1/26/2017- Don't Judge, Read- Guest Post

1/26/2017- The Starving Bookworm- Review

1/27/2017- Hidden Worlds Books- Guest Post

1/27/2017- Book Review Becca- Review

Week Two:

1/30/2017- Jorie Loves A Story- Interview

1/30/2017- Drink Coffee and Read Books- Review

1/31/2017- Read Coffee and Teen- Interview

1/31/2017- The Bookavid- Review

2/1/2017- Lisa's Loves(Books of Course)- Excerpt

2/1/2017- NovelKnight- Review

2/2/2017- YA Guy- Excerpt

2/2/2017- Rockin' Book Reviews- Review

2/3/2017- So Few Books- Interview

2/3/2017- Netherreads- Review

How I Got my Agent: Jennifer Bardsley

DAMAGED GOODS (Blank Slate #2)

Jennifer Bardsley

January 17, 2017

Month9Books

Blanca has everything she ever wanted, a hot boyfriend named Seth and the loving support of her foster father, Cal. She’s finally escaped the abusive control of her birth father, Barbelo Nemo, and her tortured childhood at Tabula Rasa School.

But the scars of Blanca’s Vestal upbringing run deep, especially when the FBI start asking questions. Blanca feels abandoned by Seth who is hunting for Lilith, Blanca’s only blood relative. The Defectos, a support group of Vestal-Rejects, offer Blanca comfort instead.

While the Vestal order crumbles, Chinese rivals called the Guardians rise to power and wrest control of important Tabula Rasa contacts. Now Blanca’s life is in peril once more, and this time, Blanca struggles to recognize friend from foe.

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD

How I Got My Agent: Jennifer Bardsley

My agent is Liza Fleissig of the Liza Royce Agency, and she is exactly the type of champion a writer wants to make that jump from dreamer to published author. Liza answers emails promptly, cheers me on when I feel discouraged, and brings an enormous amount of experience and business sense to every conversation. Plus, Liza runs her agency like a little family and encourages her authors to help each other on the path to success.

I found out about Liza and LRA by looking in “The Book” from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. When a writer joins SCBWI, they have access to “The Book” which is a KidLit publishing encyclopedia. It tells you everything you need to do to get traditionally published, and a little bit of information about self-publishing as well. “The Book” has a section on literary agents. When I was ready to query my manuscript, I started alphabetically and emailed through the list. I no longer remember how many people I queried, but I think I was at the 15ish number.

Liza asked me for an exclusive full which meant she wanted to read my manuscript but also wanted me to pause on querying other agents while she spent time reviewing my work. When Liza called me up to speak to me about my project I was stunned. After all my hard work, I was finally talking to a real live person in publishing!

As soon as I hung up the phone, I cyberstalked some of Liza’s clients including Joshua David Bellin, Sarah J. Schmitt, Lisa Barr, and Darlene Beck Jacobson, and was impressed by what I discovered.  Liza represented a talented group of people.

A month or two later a beautiful legal-sized envelope came in the mail to me, direct from New York City. It was my contract with Liza Royce Agency; our agreement that Liza would represent me.

Whenever writer friends talk to me about their publishing goals, I tell them to join SCBWI, open up “The Book,” and grab a highlighter with determination. Stay persistent, have faith in yourself, and don’t give up!

Title: GENESIS GIRL (Blank Slate #1)

Author: Jennifer Bardsley

Pub. Date: June 14, 2016

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 280

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon |  B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Books A Million | Google Play | IndieBound

Eighteen-year-old Blanca has lived a sheltered life. Her entire childhood has been spent at Tabula Rasa School where she’s been protected from the Internet. 

Blanca has never been online and doesn’t even know how to text. Her lack of a virtual footprint makes her extremely valuable, and upon graduation, Blanca and those like her are sold to the highest bidders.

Blanca is purchased by Cal McNeal, who uses her to achieve personal gain. But the McNeals are soon horrified by just how obedient and non-defiant Blanca is. All those mind-numbing years locked away from society have made her mind almost impenetrable. 

By the time Blanca is ready to think for herself, she is trapped. Her only chance of escape is to go online. 

About Jennifer

Jennifer Bardsley writes the parenting column “I Brake for Moms” for the Sunday edition of The Everett Daily Herald. She also blogs at Teaching My Baby to Read with the mission of sparking a national debate on the important roll parents play in education. Jennifer is a graduate of Stanford University and a member of SCBWI. She lives with her husband and two children in Edmonds, WA.

GENESIS GIRL will release in 2016 and is about an 18 year-old girl whose lack of a virtual footprint makes her so valuable that she is auctioned off to the highest bidder, the sequel  will come out in 2017. Jennifer is represented by Liza Fleissig of the Liza Royce Literary AgencyLLC.

Follow the Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Giveaway Details:

(1) winner will receive a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/16/2017- The Avid Book Collector- Excerpt

1/16/2017- Sammeh Lurves Reading- Review

1/17/2017- Lisa's Loves(Books of Course)- Guest Post

1/17/2017- I am not a bookworm!- Review

1/18/2017- Sharon Lee Hughson, Author- Interview

1/18/2017- Bookish Hollow- Review

1/19/2017- Hidden Worlds Books- Guest Post

1/19/2017- Taylicious Reads- Review

1/20/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Interview

1/20/2017- Abooktropolis- Review

Week Two:

1/23/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

1/23/2017- Jenn Blogs Books- Review

1/24/2017- Read Coffee and Teen- Excerpt

1/24/2017- Michaela Daphne- Review

1/25/2017- So Few Books- Interview

1/25/2017- Book Review Becca- Review

1/26/2017- Quillable- Guest Post

1/26/2017- Rockin' Book Reviews- Review

1/27/2017- LILbooKlovers- Interview

1/27/2017- The Starving Bookworm- Review

Best of 2016 Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the
Best of 2016 Giveaway Hop
January 19th to 31st

This giveaway is a thank you to all the amazing people who participate in these blog hops!! Without you, we couldn't do what we do. Thank you!!

A Big THANK YOU to all of the bloggers that participate in these hops!   There are many blogs participating in this hop, so be sure to stop by each and enter to win!  Each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.

This hop is hosted by BOOKHOUNDS!

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:

(1) Paperback Copy of WE WERE LIARS by e. lockhart  from The Book Depository 

• Ends  01/31/2017
• US & Canada only
• Open only to those who can legally enter
• Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.
• You must be 13 or older to enter .
• The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
• YOU MUST CHECK BACK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE WON.
• You can email me at mmcfarlane[at]sasktel[dot]net for questions or to confirm your prize. I do send out emails so check your spam file! The direct link to the email may not work for every browser, so cut and paste to your email interface.
• This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.
• Giveaway was organized by BookHounds and sponsored by me.

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Dreaming of Cash $250 Giveaway

Dreaming of Cash $250 Giveaway

January 16th to 30th

Enter for your chance to win a $250 Amazon Gift Code or $250 in Paypal Cash!! Thanks to this awesome group of bloggers and authors who have joined with me to bring you one fabulous prize!!

Sponsor List I Am A Reader Lori's Reading Corner Carol Ross Melanie McFarlane Books Sapphyria's Book Reviews Author Inger Iversen T. Hammond Mia Siegert Inspy Books Rockin' Book Reviews Diana's Book Reviews Author Cindy C Bennett Krysten Lindsay Hager A. Gardner - Author Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and MORE Konstanz Silverbow Helen Smith Maureen's Musings Laurie Treacy, author Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love Glistering: B's Blog Laurisa White Reyes, Author Jennifer Faye, Romance Author Author Felicia Starr Author Alecia Stone Kelsey Ketch Magical Cool Cat Mysteries Talia Jager A Leisure Moment  

Giveaway Details $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card Ends 1/30/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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My Adventures in Copyediting: Business Tips

All inclusive or All-inclusive?

All is a prefix and nearly always requires a hyphen. 

Web site versus website?

The AP Stylebook officially changed web site to website back in 2010. Web site is never proper grammar.

Get found...

There is absolutely nothing grammatically incorrect with the above phrasing, but one can re-word it to sound a little more professional. I like: Get noticed.


Thanks for reading! If you're looking for website copyediting at affordable prices, let me know!

Bookish Crafts: Book Page Roses

Making a Book Page Rose

What you need:

- one recycled book

- one glue stick

1. Take a sheet of paper from a book. I like to use discard books from thrift stores or a local indie shop (mine is Post Horizon Booksellers).  Did you know that these places pay to have old books recycled!

2. Mark out two squares from your page. Know that these will be the base of your flower. I chose to scale their size down to 4" x 4".

3. Fold one square diagonally, to create two triangles.

4. Fold diagonally, two more times.

5. Now, keeping the fold to the bottom, draw a "petal" on the triangle. You will need a large semi-circle at the top, with a small one at the bottom.

6. Cut out the petal. The first time I did this I didn't put the fold at the bottom and ended up with a less than ideal flower! So if that happens to you, don't fret. You have an entire recycled book to get more pages from.

7. Repeat the above with two more squares.

8. Cut out a two petals from two of the flowers, and three petals from the third.

9. Glue each "cut" end of the petals to its counterpart, creating a rounded effect to the flowers. Leave the smallest two as is.

10. Using a toothpick, curl the edges of the petals at their outer tips.

11. Glue each section inside the other, from smallest to largest. Now, put your bookish rose on display. You can connect it to a stem, or leave it by itself. Either way it's a beautiful addition to your shelves.

Thank you for reading! If you make your own bookish roses, please post links in the comments!